Ford Performance and ARB 4×4 Accessories are teaming up to develop components for Ford off-road enthusiasts. The all-new winch-capable front bumper for Ford Ranger is the first component from the collaboration, bringing even greater capability to the adventure-ready Ranger.Ford Most pickup truck owners have modified their whip in some manner. Be it a simple tonneau cover or an extensive lift kit, there is no shortage of aftermarket gear to buy for ones 44.Ford is seeking to cash in on the long-running trend, teaming up with ARB 44 Accessories to develop kit for the midsize Ranger. Kicking off the collaboration is the stout front bumper you see here, one capable of accepting a winch and other off-road goodies.Designed specifically for Ranger, the all-new front bumper complements the trucks rugged lines despite turning up at the corners like a villains evil smile. It is finished in a powder coat and is built from welded sheet steel up to 3/16ths of an inch thick. Attaching to the truck using existing chassis mounting points, it continues to incorporate the full suite of Ford CoPilot360 driving aids and safety nannies.That latter point is a big deal, given that the Blue Oval has spent untold gazillions developing and marketing those features. According to Ford, its the only aftermarket steel bumper available for Ranger that meets regulatory crash test standards and can be installed on any North American Ranger configuration (the new ones, at least it probably wont fit Uncle Alvins rusty 2009 XLT).The trend of OEMs partnering with an aftermarket company is rapidly gaining steam. Chevy is currently playing house with AEV to build the Colorado ZR2 Bison, another midsize truck with acres of off-road cred. Jeep and Ram have also introduced expansive (and expensive) catalogs of rugged kit for the Wrangler, Gladiator and their line of pickup trucks.Its the latter point that impacts the company bottom line, as the cost of these accessories can often be worked into the vehicles selling price. Rather than pay $1,495 for the bumper, a dealer would be more than glad to tack $20 a month onto your payment. This also has the effect of raising the trucks average transaction price, an investor-pleasing metric.Aftermarket gear is a huge business, estimated to be a multi-billion dollar industry with plenty of room for growth. Next week, the worlds leading aftermarket companies will descend on Las Vegas for the SEMA Show, an annual soire in which hundreds of vendors show and display their wares. By teaming up with an OEM, companies like ARB and AEV are getting ahead of the game and assuring themselves a piece of a pie that is, with the likes of Jeep and Ford selling their own gear, being sliced into increasingly slim pieces. View this post on Instagram Feeding the long faced animal that isn’t mine and other jobs. Even made a beetle bank. A post shared by Jeremy Clarkson (@jeremyclarkson1) on Oct 27, 2019 at 6:33am PDTOf course, little of this would be necessary if Ford would simply grow a pair and import the tremendous Ranger Raptor to our market. While the Blue Oval is quick to point out the diesel engine fitted to these trucks in other markets wont play in Peoria, one cannot logically assert the company which literally invented the assembly line cant figure out how to fit a set of Fox dampers and a wider track onto a North American Ranger.Hey, by all appearances, Jeremy Clarkson has one. Endorsements dont get much heartier than
Origin: Ford gets into aftermarket off-road parts with ARB kit for Ranger